EXP 01: BASIC LOGIC GATES

INTRODUCTION
The likes of Hilbert, Boole, Frege, Gentzen, Gödel, Malcev, Turing, Tarski were 20th century
mathematicians who contributed immensely to the modern development of the field of
mathematical logic and also to the progression of science as a whole. Equipped with logical
reasoning, computability and high analytical capacity, through their work, mathematics evolved
more into the realm of applications and eventually lead to the concepts of modern computing.
By now, you may know that the language of computers is 1s and 0s and all functions or the basic
logic of a computer is performed by manipulating 1s and 0s. The formulation to this manipulation is
called Boolean algebra. Boolean algebra is a sub-field in Algebra which was introduced in 1854 by
George Boole in his book An Investigation of the Laws of Thought. Functions such as conjunction
(AND), disjunction (OR) and negation (NOT), forms a basis of logic in Boolean algebra. In this
first experiment we will take a closer look at the basic LOGIC GATES and their operations that
performs the functions of Boolean algebra and also the basis for Digital Circuits.

LOGIC GATES
The functions, Inverter (NOT), AND, OR, NAND, NOR, Exclusive-OR (EXOR) and, Exclusive-
NOR (EXNOR) forms the basis of Digital Logic Gates. Using them as basic building blocks any
digital combinational logic circuit could be constructed. All these gates would either accept one or
two inputs or give a single output. In the pre-lab exercises you may have constructed the truth tables
of these gates and the corresponding logical expressions (Boolean Expression).
In your first semester laboratory you have seen how a transistor (Bipolar Junction Transistor) could
be used as a switch by operating it in the cut-off and the saturation regions and may have also
realized it could be used as an NOT gate. It is possible to construct other logic gates using
transistors to build logic gates. However, in this Laboratory course we would use the 7400 series
logic chips to utilize the respective logic gate which will be less time consuming to both construct
and debug a circuit. This series of chips has been manufactured since the 1960s. These chips were
used to design and build computers during that time; however, they are rarely used in computers
built today. Despite this, they still have many uses (in addition to teaching students digital logic).
They are still produced, easy to obtain and are fairly inexpensive. The chips come in various
packages, but the package used in these labs is a dual in-line package, otherwise known as a DIP
(for a full description of the 7400 series logic chips please refer Appendix A).

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REFERENCES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 To get familiar with the logical operations in Boolean algebra.

 To identify basic Logic Gates and to construct their truth tables.

 To implement and validate the function of logic gates in an electronic circuit using 7400 series
integrated circuit (IC) chips.

PRE-LAB EXCERSICES
1.1 Identify and name the basic logic gates and draw symbols to represent them.
1.2 For each of the above logic gates, write down a Boolean algebraic expression to represent
them.
1.3 Construct the truth tables of each logic gate you identified (having one or two inputs).
1.4 In an electronic circuit discuss a convenient way to represent logical TRUE (1, HIGH, ON)
and FALSE (0, LOW, OFF).
1.5 Discuss how a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) could be used as a switch. In this
configuration does the BJT act as an inverter (a NOT gate)? Explain your reasoning.

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 LABORATORY EXCERSICES

EXCERSICE 01. (OPERATION OF A “NOT” GATE)

A B

Figure 1.1

1.1.1 Identify each of the following components given to you. Resistors (note down the resistance),
7400 series IC, LEDs, Dip Switches, Power Supply, Voltage Regulator.
1.1.2 Confirm the resistance values you noted down by measuring it using a Multimeter.
1.1.3 To confirm the operation of a NOT gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.1 will be used.
1.1.4 Identify and name each component (A,B,C,D)of the Circuit given in Figure 1.1.
1.1.5 You are given a power supply having a 5V output, Confirm and note down the power supply
voltage.
1.1.6 Explain how the Dip Switch works?
1.1.7 How would you confirm that a Dip Switch is working properly? Now confirm all the Dip
Switches are working properly.
1.1.8 How would you confirm a LED is working properly?
1.1.9 If you are using a 5V power supply why would you need to connect a resistor in series with a
LED before powering up.
1.1.10 How would you determine a suitable value of resistance to be used when testing the operation
of a LED? Determine a suitable value of Resistance for the LED and the power supply you are
given. Now confirm that the LEDs you have are properly working.
1.1.11 What 7400 series IC would you pick to construct the circuit in Figure 1.1?
1.1.12 Where will you place the IC on the breadboard? Explain why?
1.1.13 What document would you need to determine the pin configuration of the IC you picked?

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1.1.14 Check the Laboratory Course Manual Appendix for the appropriate datasheet of your IC.
1.1.15 Identify the pins of the IC and draw a diagram of the pin configuration on your notebook.
1.1.16 Choose and note down an input pin (the number) for a NOT gate.
1.1.17 Choose and note down the output pin (the number) for the NOT gate you chose.
1.1.18 Identify IC pin number that you will connect the 5V input supply (Vcc).
1.1.19 Identify IC pin number that you will have to ground.
1.1.20 To construct the circuit first connect the dip switch to the input of the NOT Gate.
1.1.21 Connect the LED and Resistor in series to the output of NOT Gate.
1.1.22 Typically which part of the breadboard will you connect the power supply inputs? Explain
why?
1.1.23 Connect the power supply inputs to the breadboard.
1.1.24 Explain what a voltage regulator does?
1.1.25 Why is it important to have a voltage regulator in your circuit?
1.1.26 If a voltage regulator is not built in to your power supply you will use the 7805 voltage
regulator. Identify its pins draw a schematic in your notebook.
1.1.27 Now how would you connect the voltage regulator in your circuit?
1.1.28 Power up the supply and confirm you are getting the desired voltage output from the regulator
output.
1.1.29 Turn off power to the power supply and connect the inputs and outputs to the relevant power
terminals.
1.1.30 DO NOT POWER UP THE CIRCUIT YET!! please ask your instructor to come check your
circuit and confirm that your circuit is properly connected.
1.1.31 Now confirm function of the NOT gate. Report your observations in a truth table. Measure
output voltages and input voltages and include the voltage values also in the truth table.
1.1.32 Compare your truth table with the one you constructed in your pre-lab exercise.

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 EXCERSICE 02. (OPERATION OF AN “AND” GATE)

+5V

Figure 1.2

1.2.1 To confirm operation of an AND gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.2 will be used.
1.2.2 What 7400 series IC would you pick to construct the circuit in Figure 1.2?
1.2.3 Check the Laboratory Course Manual Appendix for the appropriate datasheet of your IC.
1.2.4 Identify the pins of the IC and draw a diagram of the pin configuration on your notebook.
1.2.5 Choose and note down input pins (the numbers) for an AND gate.
1.2.6 Choose and note down the output pin (the number) for the AND gate you chose.
1.2.7 Identify IC pin number that you will connect the 5V input supply (Vcc).
1.2.8 Identify IC pin number that you will have to ground.
1.2.9 To construct the circuit first connect the dip switches to the inputs of the AND Gate.
1.2.10 Connect the LED and Resistor in series to the output of the AND Gate.
1.2.11 Turn off power to the power supply and connect the inputs and outputs to the relevant power
terminals.
1.2.12 DO NOT POWER UP THE CIRCUIT YET!! please ask your instructor to come check your
circuit and confirm that your circuit is properly connected.
1.2.13 Now confirm function of the AND gate. Report your observations in a truth table. Measure
output voltages and input voltages and include the voltage values also in the truth table.
1.2.14 Compare your truth table with the one you constructed in your pre-lab exercise.

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 EXCERSICE 03. (OPERATION OF A “NAND” GATE)
+5V

Figure 1.3

1.3.1 To confirm operation of a NAND gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.3 will be used.
1.3.2 Repeat steps from 2 through 14 in Exercise 02 for the circuit shown in Figure 1.3 to confirm
operation of a NAND gate.

EXCERSICE 04. (OPERATION OF AN “OR” GATE)

+5V

Figure 1.4

1.4.1. To confirm operation of an OR gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.4 will be used.
1.4.2. Repeat steps from 2 through 14 in Exercise 02 for the circuit shown in Figure 1.4 to confirm
operation of an OR gate.

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EXCERSICE 05. (OPERATION OF A “NOR” GATE)

+5V

Figure 1.5

1.5.1. To confirm operation of a NOR gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.5 will be used.
1.5.2. Repeat steps from 2 through 14 in Exercise 02 for the circuit shown in Figure 1.5 to confirm
operation of a NOR gate.

EXCERSICE 06. (OPERATION OF AN “ExOR” GATE)

+5V

Figure 1.6

1.6.1. To confirm operation of an ExOR gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.6 will be used.
1.6.2. Repeat steps from 2 through 14 in Exercise 02 for the circuit shown in Figure 1.6 to confirm
operation of an ExOR gate.

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 EXCERSICE 07. (OPERATION OF AN “ExNOR” GATE)

+5V

Figure 1.7

1.7.1. To confirm operation of an ExNOR gate, the circuit shown in Figure 1.7 will be used.
1.7.2. Repeat steps from 2 through 14 in Exercise 02 for the circuit shown in Figure 1.7 to confirm
operation of an ExNOR gate.

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